Sarah FalsonTen new Harvey Norman OFIS-branded office supply stores will use Pronto’s Pronto-Xi enterprise resource planning (ERP) software package for all their front and back office requirements, online sales, purchase orders, distribution and financial management in a seamless system.
Harvey Norman OFIS will be operated and managed as an independent operation from the Harvey Norman electrical branch, under the direction of general manager, Paul English, and will go head-to-head with Wesfarmers-owned Officeworks.
English says Pronto’s offering is a cost-effective, flexible, out-of-the-box tool, which will play a key role in supporting the new company’s online offering.
“To be relevant in this market, you have to have an online presence. We want to ensure our online offering is equal to – if not better – than our competitors. The customer experience is paramount, which is another reason we selected Pronto-Xi as it provides a user-friendly web-based shopfront to easily shop online,” he said.
Pronto-Xi manages retailers’ customer, supplier and prospect interactions, from marketing and sales to service and logistics. For example, the software could automatically ensure stock coverage at both company and franchise stores using a single process, saving the retailer resources and increasing your stock turns, Pronto says.
Pronto Software’s customer portfolio now includes Haymes Paint, Jessops, Kathmandu, Photo Continental, Snooze and The Body Shop, in addition to OFIS.
“We referenced Pronto Software customers and liked what we saw in terms of the volumes and complexities that Harvey Norman OFIS will be dealing with. We’re very confident Pronto Software is the right solution provider to move forward with in this exciting venture,” said English.
Harvey Norman OFIS has initially purchased 60 user licences to support head office and the first two stores, utilising a range of Pronto-Xi modules including Financials, Distribution, Warehouse Management, Point of Sale, CRM, EDI, and iShop.
The Harvey Norman OFIS online store is scheduled to go live in the first half next year, while the first two ‘bricks and mortar’ stores – in Albury and Auburn, Sydney – will open in March.
Harvey Norman plans to open eight to 10 stores by the end of 2008.